Shipley, James 1a

Birth Name Shipley, James
Gender male
Age at Death about 24 years, 8 months, 9 days

Narrative

James Shipley Co. H 1st Reg't Ark. Infantry

James Shipley was born about 1845 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. He enlisted in Company "H" of the 1st Arkansas Infantry when he feared rebels might conscript him as they had his older brother, Richard. He returned home in 1865 and died the 10th of September, 1869 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA probably from a case of typhoid fever. After his death family members claimed he died from complications caused by an impure smallpox vaccination administered during the Civil War. His mother, Sarah, applied for his war pension in 1888. There was an in-depth review of her pension application in 1890 by special examiner, H. N. Patton. He took depositions from eighteen people regarding this matter and recommended that the pension application be rejected as "spurious and void of merit."(1) He believed the family was trying to falsify the circumstances of James's death and mix it up with the death of his brother, William Park Shipley who died of a "terrible skin disease." In Sarah's pension deposition she says:(2)

"I don't know how old I am. I am going on 70 odd. I was born in oats harvest in 1811 I think : widow : P.O. address Chester Crawford Co. Ark.

I claim a pension as a dependent mother of James Shipley, my son, who died of disease contracted in the service. He died of smallpox or whatever you called it. He was broken out all in scabs under his arms, over his face and about all over him. He got the
disease at Ft. Smith - Ark. He sent for me to come to see him and I went and staid with him in the tents until he got able and I then brought him home with me. I expect there were sores on him when I went to see him. There must have been. I could not say whether I saw any sores on him at that time or not. I expect there was though. Poor fellow he didn't want to go to the hospital and that is the reason he sent for me. I believe they called the disease small pox. He was rotten with it I know. I forget the year that I went too see him. I don't know "pint blank". I brought him with me, and them places I've been telling you of broke out again, under his arms and over his face + about just like blisters, and he got so we couldn't move him without his "hollerin". Yes Sir, he had been vaccinnated. There was a heap of the soldiers at Fort Smith got vaccinnated and I think James did to. "I don't know nothing." I have been sick and am so old that I don't recollect much. I don't remember the date - of his death -, but I think it was in Aug. We were pulling fodder at the time. The cause of death was the breaking out and his being in the army. I had four boys in the army, and they all died after they came out of the service. We had a doctor over here somewhere but I don't know his name. to give him some treatment. That was a night or two, or day or two, or a wk before James died. He lived out here at Chester. He was never stout after he came out of the army. "He lived till he died." He was able to go about like the rest of the soldiers. He had this breaking out until he died. He was mortified poor fellow. They couldn't put his shoes on after he died without pulling his feet off, he was so mortified. He was scabs all over. Yes, his arm was all raw when I came to see him at Ft. Smith - and it liked to have come off. I don't remember which arm it was.

I don't remember "pint blank" when he enlisted. He was old enough to go into the army, but I can't say how old he was when he enlisted. He wasn't of age, - was just a boy. He lived at home with me and he made corn, or helped, for all of us -- helped to make a living like a child ought to do. He sent me $2.00 or $3.00 after he went into the service. I ought to know who he sent it by but I don't. That is all he ever sent me. It was silver money I believe. I depended in part on James for my support because he worked at home to make the living. I don't know the Co or Regt. he belonged to.

I don't know where my girls were when James enlisted. They were with their Pa where ever he was. I only had one child at home when James enlisted, and that was Elijah. He was younger than James. Me and him, that child, went to Ft. Smith to tend to James."

 

Footnotes:

(1) Sarah Shipley Pension Application, No. 379,798; page 6; Letter by H. N. Patton.

(2) Sarah Shipley pension deposition No. 379798; pages 7,8 Deposition A by Sarah Shipley.

 

Dependent Mother No. 379,798
Sarah Shipley
Mother
James Shipley
Pvt. Co. "H." 1st Ark. Infantry
P.O. address Chester Crawford Co., Ark.

Fort Smith . Ark.
May 31, 1890

Hn. Green B. Raum
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Sir:
I have the honor to return this paper
and to submit my report in the above indicate
claim, which was referred to the S.E. Div to
determine incurrence of soldiers disability
in service and also dependence, contributions
date + cause of death.
The claimant was properly notified
and her rights fully explained to her.
Claimant is pretty old and was in
quite feeble health when I was there. The
case was opened up in March and
on account of the comrades living in
so many different localities I have been
unable to complete it until now.
A short history of this event seems
to be: that several years prior to the war
Page 3

Claimants husband, being a pretty hard
case, left her and never returned, or aided
her in anyway in caring for the little
ones; but when the war came up James,
to soldier, and "Lige" were her only support
and dependence. "Lige" is about a half witted
fellow not smart or intelligent by
any means; that James was vaccinnated
while in the service, but how, when or by
whose orders the testimony fails to show, and
his mother went after him, brought him
home and nursed him until his arm
got well; that in 1869 - Sept. while pulling
fodder for a brother, decd. he became
overheated, took suddenly sick at his
Aunts, decd. and died of typhoid fever
in 19 days there after; that Claimt. Never
applied for back bounty and never filed
her claim for pension, as a dependent
mother, until Sept. 1888.
John T. Dotson, a comrade of doubtful
veracity, testifies before me that soldier was
vaccinnated at Waldron Scott Co. Ark in Sept.
1864; that soldier died of fever + had no
sores, pimples or blisters on him +c. Compare
this with his former affidavit (B.J. 6)
Wm. Y. Oliver a comrade of good repute
testifies that he only knows that soldier was
vaccinnated by hearsay. However was one
on his arm 5 or 6 months before he (depment)
Page 4

 

Enlisted (Oct. 1864) and never saw anything
but the scar after enlistment. Never saw
any skin eruptions +c. Vaccinnated in right
arm this time (In BJ.7)
This claim has been worked up
by a grandson, W.L. Shipley, an imspossible person
whose standing for truth is not good in his
community. He is not "overly" bright
being rather a "smart aleck", if I am
permitted to use that expression. Wm Oliver
(B.J. 7) told me in a conversation after I had
taken his evidence that they had promisd
him $10.00 for making the affidavit in case
the claim was allowed. He could not be
qualified which one of the family it was,
but was under the impression it was "Lige"
the half witted fellow. W. L. Shipley would
stoop to almost anything to gain his point
and it would not surprise me that he offered
witnesses money to testify. He testifies himself that
in case his grandmother got a full pension
he was to get $50.
In coming to a conclusion in this
case, I will briefly say, that in my
opinion, the soldier was vaccinnated
while in the service, but that it never
hurt him in the least - nothing spurious
about the virus. It is a fact that soldiers
brother, Park Shipley, decd. had a terrible skin
disease and died a terrible death. I believe
they are trying to mixed these two brothers up
Page 5

 

that soldier died in Sept. 1869
of typhoid fever brought on no doubt
by over exhaustion ? ??? pulling fodder
and that his death causes no way
connected with the service. I believe
the claim to be spurious and void
of merit, and I there fore recommend
rejection.
Very respectfully
H. N. Patton
Special Examiner

PS. Geo. Wells + W N. Moore (Inlist) knew
nothing for or against and I did not take
their evidence.

Page 6

(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798

On this 24 day of Mch. , 1890 , at
Mountainburg , County of Crawford ,
State of Ark. , before me, H. N. Patton , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Dr James
S. Bushong , who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid
pension claim, deposes and says: I am 51 years old : practicing physician
since March 1869. not a graduate. Attended two courses of
lectures at Louisville Ky.
I remember James Shipley. I was called to see him
once and perhaps twice during his last illness. I don't know
how long he lived after I went to see him the last time. I
heard he was dead some 3 or 4 days after I was there.
I have no record and I have to testify from memory. He died
in Aug or Sept. 1869. There was no other Dr called in to see
him that I know of. I do not know how long he had been
sick when I went to see him, but it was several days though He
must have been sick 3 or 4 wks all told. I made a thorough
physical examination of him and I am not certain whether
he had pneumonia or typhoid fever. I think there were symptoms
of typhoid, because he was delirious both times I went to see
him. The time being so long ago, and having to speak from memory
it is my mind that it was typhoid fever and he was very
low when I went to see him. I don't remember that he had any
symptoms of pneumonia. He might have been taken with pneumonia
and it run into typhoid, but I don't remember now. I remember
he was considerably emaciated. He had considerable fever when
I was there. I don't remember what history of the case I got
of the family when I went to see him. I think he had been working
in a fodder field when he was taken sick. Some of the family
told me that. I don't remember that they told me that he had over done
himself pulling fodder.
No Sir. I noticed no other disabilities when I examined him
Page 24 Deposition F


Page 25
I examined his lungs ????????. I noticed nothing else
but an acute attack of fever. I noticed no skin eruptions,
In all fevers there are purlple splotches on the face. There were
no pimples or sores. It was just the redress from the fever.
I noticed no ulcers or sores on him any where. I did not
notice any indications of syphilis. I did not suspect
any thing of the kind and I made no examination for it.
From the parts I examined breast + bowels - I noticed
nothing that would raise my suspicions in that direction.
I did not examine his bare arms. I don't remember of
him having any bed sores. I heard nothing concerning
spurious vaccinnation. I don't remember to have seen a
sore or ulcer on him, or of hearing any thing about it.
I think he had been working in the fodder field, or that is what
they told me, and was taken sick, but I can't say whether
he was taken suddenly or whether it came on gradually. He was
at his sister-in-laws while sick.
They have been here as much as twice to get me to make
a statement and I told them I could not do them any good.
One of the Shipleys came, but as I had never seen him before,
(I think it was a Shipley) I can't say which one and he said if I would make them
a statement that would get them a pension I would get $25.00
for it. Just the same thing as offering me $25.00 to make this affidavit
I know Wm. L. Shipley, at Chester and it wasn't him that offered me
that $25.00.
I am not related to the Claimt. I have no ill will or prejudice
against the claim. I am in favor of the granting of pensions when they are
just.
I have understood the questions asked and my answers have
Been correctly recorded in this affidavit.
JS Bushong
Deponent

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24 day of Mch ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner.

(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798

On this 25th day of Mch. , 1890 , at
Rudy , County of Crawford ,
State of Ark. , before me, H. N. Patton , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared John T.
Dotson , who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of
aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: I will soon be 47 years old : occupation
farmer: P.O address Rudy Crawford Co. Ark.
I was a private in Co. "H" 1st Ark. Inf. I enlisted
in Mch. 1863 and was discharges Aug. 10 "1865. I served
2 yrs. + 7 months and you count it yourself. When I enlisted
I lived on Cedar Cr. This county about 4 miles from here. After
I was discharged I went back to the same place and lived
there about 17 years.
I knew James Shipley ever since he was a little boy.
We were playmates together. We served in the army together
and were bunk + mess mates pretty near all the time,
except when out on scouts.
I know of nothing being the matter with him while
in the service, except being vaccinnated. He was punying
around ever after that. He was vaccinnated at Waldron
Scott Co., Ark. Along about Sept. 1864. I am not positive as to
the month but I know it was in 1864, because we both-
"jined" about the same time and he didn't serve any longer
than I did and that is the way I know it was 1864. I know
we were discharged. I am sure of that. Dr. Robinson
a surgeon in our Regt. vaccinnated him. I don't know where
Dr. Robinson is. He ran off shortly after he vaccinnated
the boys and he hadn't been in the Regt. very long before. I
didn't see Shipley vaccinnated. They tried to get me to go
and I wouldn't do it, so I ran off that day. I saw the place
Shipley was vaccinnated, and it was on the right wrist,
about 4 inches above the wrist joint, on the inside. I saw
Page 13 Deposition B

Page 14
the place the next day and I don't reckon it was longer
than a wheat grain - just enough to make the blood run.
No Sir. There was no smallpox at Waldron at that time that
I know of. The reason I think he was vaccinnated at Waldron
Ark is because I know where Waldron is, and we were there
when it was done. For two or three days after Shipley was
vaccinnated his arm swelled and then it began to break
out in "yaller" blisters and then they would turn purple.
These places broke out up to his elbow and I think there
were one or two places above the elbow. Some of the places got
as big as a quarter of a dollar. I never saw any sores
on him anywhere else but on the right arm while in the
service. I know his arm came mighty near rotting off.
Yes Sir, he went to the hospital and was there a good while. I
don't recollect whether I saw him while he was in the
hospital. I won't be certain whether he was in the hospital
at Waldron or at Fort Smith. I believe we had come back to
Fort Smith. Yes Sir I saw some sores on that arm after he
came back from the hospital. It ????? finally cured up.
The main places ????? cured up but it would break out
in other places on his arm. When he was discharged his
arm was nearly a solid sore.
When discharged he went on to Mulberry Creek I
think and I went on to Cedar Cr. I have never been
in Mulberry but I think it was about 25 miles from
where I lived. I don't have any idea how long we lived
that far apart. I did not have much to do with him after
the war. About 4 years before he died I think, he moved to within
about 4 miles of me. I just saw him occasionally Sundays
when I'd go up there. I don't know what year he died. He died
in the fall of the year. In his last illness he sent for me one

his
Attest James Dotson John T. X Dotson
H. N. Patton mark


Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25 day of Mch ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner

(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798

On this day of , 18 , at
, County of ,
State of , before me, , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared
, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of
aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:
evening and he died the next morning. I got there
too late for him to recognize me. He didn't know me at
all. I stood right over him when he drawed his last
breath. He had a heap of fever and he was rearing
and trying to climb the wall. He was plumb crazy and
he would "holler" that the house was on fire. From the
way he acted I thought the misery was in his head.
He didn't know anything. I don't recollect whether it was
fever or what it was that killed him. I did not help
wash + dress him. I did not see him naked. No Sir: I never
noticed any sores on him. I didn't stay in the house after he
died. No Sir. I don't recollect of seeing any sores on his
face before or after he died. I don't think there was any. It looks
like if there had been any sores, pimples or blisters on his
face I would have noticed it, because I wet his tongue
with a rag just before he died. The summer before he
died he punyied around and was not able to work much and
he said vaccinnation was the cause of it and he thought
it would kill him. In his last illness, I was informed
that he was taken very suddenly. I don't think he was sick
very long. I never heard that he was sick until they sent
for me. He was working for the widow Shipley when he took
sick or I was told. I don't know anything about him pulling
fodder. I don't know what he was doing. He died about
10 oclock one day and he was buried the next day evening. They
burned hair + feathers in the woods after he died. He said
the vaccinnation gave him a heart disease.
Page 15 Deposition B

Page 16
Well Sir, I don't think James Shipley was a bad man
after the women. I think he was a virtueous man. I
never heard of him having any thing the matter with him
that way.
The affidavit I have given you in reference to date;
place and the arm he was vaccinated in is correct
according to my best recollections. I'd swear he wasn't vaccinnated
at Fort Smith. It is bound to be ????? in ?????? affidavit as to
its being in the fall of 1863. All I know about Shipley having
a crippled arm is what he told me himself. I never
axed him to look at his arm after he came out of the service.
I know his arm was sore when he was mustered out of
the service. He complained to me that he was not able to
do more than ½ work.
My recollection is that James Shipley was vaccinated
at Waldron Ark in the fall of 1864 in the right wrist, and
they cant never make me believe anything else.
They never promised to give me anything for making
?????? affidavit. They said if they got it they would pay
me for my trouble but didn't say how much.
I am not related to Claimt. I have no interest
in the claim.
I have understood the questions asked and my
answers have been correctly recorded in this affidavit.
his
Attest James Dotson John T. X Dotson
mark
Deponent

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25 day of Mch ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner

(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798

On this 26th day of Apr. , 1890 , at
near Harrison , County of Boone ,
State of Arkansas , before me, H. N. Patton , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared John W.
Moore , who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid
pension claim, deposes and says: I am 54 yrs. old : occupation
farmer : P.O. address Harrison Boone Co Ark.
I was a Sergt. Co. "H" 1st Ark. Inf.; Enlisted
Mch. 1863; discharged Aug. 1865.
I was not acquainted with James Shipley
prior to enlistment and I have never seen him since
discharge I was neither a bunk or mess mate.
I really can't recollect much about him. As well
as I recollect he was a young man about 6 ft. high.
I can't call to mind of any thing being the
matter with him in the service. I don't remember
of him getting wounded or hurt in any way. I was from
one county and he another and I did not know him
very well in the service. I never had very much
to do with him. I can't recollect about him being
in the Co. but I was better acquainted with others than
I was with him.
I can not recall of his being sick or left
in hospital while in the service. It does appear
now that he was left in the hospital at Fort Smith
in 1864 about the spring of the year, but I cant be
positive. I don't remember what he was sent to
the hospital for. It just seems to me that he was
in the hospital but I am not certain about it.
I can't swear that James Shipley was
vaccinnated at Fort Smith Ark. There were several
of the boys who were vaccinnated and it cause
very ????? killing some of them, but I cant say
Page 22 Deposition E

Page 23
that Shipley was vaccinnated.
The fact is I do not know that Claimt. Had
anything the matter with him while in the service, only it
just ????? me he was left in the hospital some
where but I can't say what was the matter or
how he seemed to be afflicted.
I am not related to Claimt. I have no
interest in the claim.
I have understood the questions asked
and my answers have been correctly recorded in this
affidavit.
John W Moore
Deponent

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26th day of Apr. ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner.

 

(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798

On this 28th day of May , 1890 , at
Near Griggs , County of Logan ,
State of Arkansas , before me, H. N. Patton , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Samuel
J. (could be T or F) Shelton , who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid
pension claim, deposes and says: I am 54 years old: occupation
farmer: P.O. address Griggs, Logan Co. Ark.
I belonged to Co. "H" 1st Ark. Inf. - first a
Corpl., then a duty Sergt, and about the summer
of 1864 was appointed Orderly Sergt. of the
Co. and was mustered out Aug. 10, 1865.
There were two Shipley boys in my Co. but
I can't get them separated. They were from a different
county and I did not know them prior to enlistment
and I have not known them since discharge.
No Sir: I do not know the condition of these men.
I can't call to mind whether either had any
injury or ailment while in the service. If there
was any thing physically the matter with either
while in the service I have forgotten it.
I do not know that James Shipley was
vaccinnated with impure virus. I can say
this that a great many of our regiment
were so vaccinnated but to say that James
Shipley was I can't single him out personally.
the vaccinnation was done at Fort Smith - Ark.
in the fall of 1863 I reckon. Some of the boys had
considerable trouble with their arms. It was
serious with a good many of them.
Not being able to call to mind the Shipley
boys, or separate one from the other. I can't state
whether either was sick or sent to the hospital
or not. My associations with the boys from other
Page 20 Deposition D

Page 21
counties were not so great as it was
with the boys from my own county, consequently
there might have been something the matter
with the Shipley boys and I not have
known it, or paid as much attention to it
as I would have done had they been from
my own county boys.
I am not related to the Claimt. I have
no interest in the claim ??????????.
I have understood the questions asked
and my answers have been correctly recorded
in this affidavit.
S. J. Shelton
Deponent

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of May ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner.

(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798

On this 27th day of Mch. , 1890 , at
Mulberry , County of Franklin ,
State of Ark. , before me, H. N. Patton , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared W. Y.
Oliver , who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid
pension claim, deposes and says: I was 42 years old the 1st of last
Nov. : occupation blacksmith + farmer: P. O.
address Mulberry, Franklin Co., Ark.
I was a private in Co. "H" 1st Ark. Inf. According
to my discharge, which I now show you, I enlisted
Oct. 1st 1864, and was discharged Aug. 10, 1865
I knew James Shipley before the war. We were
own cousins, raised up together, lived 3 or 4 miles
apart, soldiered together, bunked and messed
together. He was in the service longer than I was.
I know of nothing being the matter with him, but
vaccinnation, while in the service. I did not see him
vaccinnated and I only know that he was vaccinnated
by him saying so. He said he was vaccinnated at
Fort Smith. It was before I went into the service. I
cant tell you the year he was vaccinated. When I
went in to the service I know he had a terrible big scar
on the right arm, as well as I recollect now, between the
wrist and elbow, about ½ or 1/3 of the way between
the wrist joint and elbow. There was no sore. He com-
plained of sharp shooting pains in his arm + shoulder
and he would often grab his arm and screw + twist
around and use some rough word or another and bemoan
the vaccinnation. He complained like a man with
rheumatism. It would last and hr. or two. He either
let on a heap or was actually hurt. The arm seemed to be
smaller than the other. The scar on his arm was
as big around as a dollar in silver and was rather
Page 17 Deposition C

Page 18
sunk down in his arm. He did not complain any where
else but that arm. The way I imagined it, his arm would
get numb and feel bad and pained him and he would
go on sick report and claim he was not going to do
guard duty with that arm. Before I went into the service
5 or 6 months before, he came home on furlough with the sore
on his arm and he was at home 5 or 6 months with it. It
was a sight to look at. I cant say what month or year he
came home with the sore arm but it seems to me now it
was the same fall that I enlisted which would make
it in 1864. There was just one rising sore. It just festered
rose up + scab ove

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth about 1845 , Crawford County, Arkansas, USA   2
Death 1869-09-10 , Crawford County, Arkansas, USA   2

Age: 24y

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
Father SHIPLEY, Benjamin Franklin1805-01-011881-08-26
Mother BURKETT, Sarah “Sally”1811after 1890-03-19
    Brother     SHIPLEY, Nathan Pascal 1827-05-27 1863-02-22
    Sister     Shipley, Ibbey Jane about 1831 between 1864 and 1870
    Sister     Shipley, Susan Arabelle about 1833 1918-10-29
    Sister     Shipley, Naomi Jane about 1835 after 1880
    Brother     Shipley, Benjamin Franklin 1835-11-09 1922-08-18
    Brother     Shipley, William Park about 1837-08-00 1870-04-20
    Sister     Shipley, Hanna Rette 1842-01-04 1933-10-00
    Brother     Shipley, Richard about 1844 1863-02-22
         Shipley, James about 1845 1869-09-10
    Brother     Shipley, Elijah 1848-01-01 before 1900
    Brother     Shipley, Thomas about 1854 about 1854

Source References

  1. Susan: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=burgess_kimes&id=I40722 Burgess-Fisher-Ebert-Anderson-Kames-Peterson-Hofacker-Smith
      • Source text:

        ID: I40722
        Name: Francis Hughes
        Sex: M
        Birth: 1759 in , (later Dunmore County and renamed Shenandoah County), Virginia 1
        Death: 25 JAN 1841 in , Bledsoe County, Tennessee, USA 1
        Residence: 24 OCT 1782 , Washington County now Greene County, Tennessee, USA
        Residence: JUN 1776 , Rowan County now Western Burke County, North Carolina
        Residence: BET 1776 AND 1782 Watauga area, North Carolina (now Eastern Tennessee) Lesley
        Residence: BET 1793 AND 1841 , Greene County, Tennessee, USA
        Note:
        Is Hannah Retta Hughes a child of Francis Hughes born about 1759??? It is pure conjecture she is. There is no proof or any documentation for this hypothesis other than the close proximity of Hardeman (Hardy) Hughs to Benjamin Shipley, son of Hannah Retta, in the 1830 Hamilton County, Tennessee census. Hardeman Hughs may be a son of Francis Hughes; that is not proved either. In 1860 Nathan Shipley, son of Hannah Retta, was living next door to John Hughes born about 1779 and the son of Francis Hughes. Ephraim Hughes, son of John Hughes, son of Francis Hughes lived in the same town.
        ---------------------------------------------------
        http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=herbdunn&id=I523

        He died while residing with his daughter Margaret in Bledsoe Co., TN. His heirs were as follows: John and Margaret Hughes, Ingabo and Rebecca Hixson

         

        MILITARY: FRANCIS HUGHES FOUGHT WITH JOHN SEVIER IN 1777 AT WATAUGA AND IN 1780 WAS AT KING'S MOUNTAIN. HE LIVED IN THE SHENENDOAH RIVER VALLEY AND IN WASHINGTON CO, NC(TN). HE WAS IN BURKE CO,NC. HE WAS LIVING IN GREEN CO,TN WHEN HE FILED FOR HIS PENSION IN 1833
        --------
        JUN 1776 Rev. War, he entered military service in Burke Co., NC. He served as a ranger on the western Catawba Frontier, scouting against hostile Cherokee and Creek Indians. August 1776 he joined Rutherford's troops and fought in the Cherokee Expedition.
        Military pension 21 JUL 1833 As a resident of Greene Co., TN, age 74 years, he applied for a Federal pension. He was awarded an annual pension of $51.66. In his pension declaration, he mentions an engagement in which eighteen Indians were killed.
        -----------------------------------
        As documented by descendants of John Hewes, privately published by Eben Putnam, New Your, 1913, Call Number Cs71.H892.
        -------
        FEBRUARY 18, 1780. (185) Called Court on Francis Hughes, for larceny--Sent to Richmond for trial. Witnesses: Hugh Brown, and Rebecca, his wife.
        Friend of John Sevier
        Ranger in State of Franklin1785-To Bledsoe Co 1832 with unmarried Margaret, daughter.
        3rd NC Regiment on Rev. War
        Correspondent Donna Blackburn robndonna@prodigy.net- Could he have had a Cherokee Wife?
        Battle of Kings Mt.Samuel Williams Co.-With John Sevier 1782 Cherokee Expidition
        Hamilton County Pioneers by John Wilson
        ------------------------------------------------------
        http://mommy2mycutie-ivil.tripod.com/id49.html
        ceci_hansen@msn.com

        Francis Hughes Sr

        Date and place of birth: c1697 PA near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
        Date and place of death: 1777 VA probably Augusta County (present day Rockingham County), Virginia
        Names of children: John Hughes Sr b bef 1732 PA d 1791 Greene Co, TN sp Sarah ; Aaron Hughes b c1734 PA d 1799 Jefferson TN sp Mary Moore ; Francis Hughes Jr b c1740 ; Ingebo Hughes b. 1730 PA
        Names of parents: Charles Hughes b c1665 Wales d c1711 & Rebecca ???
        Siblings: John Hughes; Anne Hughes; Rebecca Hughes
        Name of spouse: Christine, probably in Pennsylvania, bet. 1720 - 1734, probably near Philadelphia, PA, possibly the daughter of Swan Rambo or Andrew Bird

        Francis Hughes

        Date and place of birth: c1759 VA
        Date and place of death: 1841 Bledsoe Co, TN
        Names of children: John Hughes b 1779 d 1871 sp Jane Skiles b c1780 ; Margaret Hughes d aft 1841 ; Clarissa Hughes b 1760/1770 sp-John Lovelady s/o John Lovelady and Sarah Morgan ; Ingebo Hughes sp-William Hixson md 6 Sep 1795 Greene Co, TN ; Rebecca Hughes sp-Timothy S Hixson ; John Hughes ; Margaret Hughes ; Hardeman (Hardy) Hughes b 1770/1780 NC d 1830/1840 Hamilton Co, TN sp-Sinthia Cook md 27 Feb Grainger Co, TN
        Names of parents: John Hughes Sr b bef 1732 d 1791 Greene Co, TN sp Sarah
        Name of spouse: 1. Rebecca Allen b. abt. 1760 d. bef. Jan 25, 1841
        2. Elizabeth Long, July 28, 1802, Greene Co. TN marriage licenses of Francis Hughs to Elizabeth Long with Timothy Hixon as witness;
        possibly separated in 1803, per David M. Hughes referencing Beavert notes, or divorced per record of a Francis Hughes filing for divorce from Elizabeth Hughes February 27, 1816.

        * Mary Ann "Polly" Hughes

        Memories and Stories

        Francis Hughes was born in Shenandoah County, VA in the year 1759. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, he was living in Western Burke (then Rowan) County, NC. He later was "unsettled", but apparently was residing in the Watauga area of east Tennessee, then North Carolina.

        Francis Hughes first entered military service in Burke County, NC in June 1776. He served as a ranger on the western Catawba Frontier, scouting against the hostile Cherokee and Creek Indians. He served in Capt. Penland's Company. In August 1776, Hughes joined up with Rutherford's troops and took part in the Cherokee Expedition of August-October 1776, In his pension declaration, he mentions an engagement in which eighteen Indians were killed.

        In January 1777, he enlisted in Col. John Seviers Regiment. Their purpose was to clear the Watauga Settlements from Indian incursions. He helped to erect and and garrison a fort on the Nolachukey River (at Gallaker's orGallagher's).

        In September 1780, Hughes volunteered under Col. Sevier (Capt. Samuel William's Company) and took part in the great King's Mountain Expedition of September and October 1780. The march culminated in the American Victory at King's Mountain, SC on October 7, 1780.

        His final tour of duty was for a period of one month under Col. Sevier. This consisted of a short march to Cherokee country and back.

        About the second marriage: A woman named Mary Ann "Dolly" Miller, the wife of Thornton Miller, claimed that she was a half-sister to John Hughes, the son of Francis Hughes and Rebecca Allen. As Kay White has noted,

        "Francis, in his will, listed ALL of his living legal heirs - IF Mary Ann was living at the time of the Will (1841), she was not his daughter, although she could have possibly been a step-daughter - IF she was deceased at that time, the possibility of either does exist - this bears further study." (12)

        Francis without a will:

        "Francis Hughes did not leave a will. The document referred to as a will was actually a court declartion made by Francis' children. They went to court to swear that they were the only living, legal heirs in order to collect their father's pension. It is known that they did not include a half sister, Mary Ann (Polly) Hughes who married Thornton Miller."
        --Jeanne Bowman Overbay, Feb. 26, 2000

        Francis Hughes is documented in Revolutionary War Soldiers of Western North Carolina.

        Francis Hughes apparently moved from Burke County, NC to Watauga some time during the war... He was in Greene Co TN, by 1782.... He continued to reside in East Tennessee for the remainder of his life.

        "Francis Hughs" appears in Greene Co TN's 1797 tax list in Captain Jas. Penney's Company as owning 1210 acres, 1 white poll, and 3 black polls.

        On July 21, 1833, as a resident of Greene County, TN, age 74 years, he applied for a Federal pension. He was awarded an annual pension of $51.66. In his pension application children are mentioned, but not by name. (See below).(6)

        Francis Hughes died January 25, 1841... while residing with his daughter Margaret in Bledsoe County, TN. His wife predeceased him. His heirs were as follows: John Hughes, Margaret Hughes, Ingabow Hixon and Rebecca Hixon.

        Francis Hughes pension record, as documented by Descendants of John Hewes, privately published by Eben Putanm, New York, 1913, Call Number Cs71.H892:

        "Francis Hughes was of Green County, Tenn., 21 July, 1833, then aged 74 years, when he applied for pension, alleging that he resided in Burke County, N. C., in June, 1776, when he enlisted as a ranger in North Carolina, under Capt. Penland, in the command of Gen. McDowell, and served two months and a half against the Cherokee and Creek Indians.

        "On his return from this tour of service, he met the troops under Gen. Rutherford on their march to the Cherokee Nation, and volunteered under Rutherford. The expedition proceeded to the "Nation." In the overhill towns the Indians embodied, and an engagement ensued in which the Indians were defeated with a loss of 18 killed. This tour of service lasted from August, 1776, to December, 1776, four months.

        "In Jan., 1777, he volunteered under Col. John Sevier to retake the western settlements on the Watoga. Seviers' force was employed in building a fort for defense at "Gallaker's" on "Nola Sheeky" river, in the present State of Tennessee. Hughes was stationed there for twelve months.

        "Under the Act of North Carolina calling for new levies, he volunteered in Sept., 1780, for an expedition, under Col. Sevier, against Ferguson. He was in Capt. Samuel Williams' company and marched with Campbell's Virginia troops across the "Yellow Mountains" into North Carolina, and there met the militia under General McDowell, and in October was present at the battle of King's Mountain.

        "After the battle he helped guard the prisoners on the march to the "Barrix" for exchange, serving three months. In the winter of 1780 he again volunteered and was led by Col. Sevier against the Cherokee Indians and marched to the borders of their country, but the Indians had retired. He was one month in this service. His total service was 21 months and 14 days.

        "He was born in Shenandoah Co Va., in 1759, and had lived in Washington County, afterward in Greene County. He was living in 1839. "

        Francis Hughes may have used his Revolutionary War service to qualify for work as a ranger, as noted in the following passages from Goodspeed's History of Greene County, 1887:

        > "In 1783, the General Assembly of North Carolina passed an act dividing Washington County for the second time, and establishing the county of Greene. On the third Monday of August, the court of pleas and quarter sessions met at the house of Robert Carr, which stood near to what is known as the Big Spring in Greeneville.

        "The magistrates present were Joseph Hardin, John Newman, George Doherty, James Houston, Amos Bird and Asahel Rawlings. Daniel Kennedy was elected clerk; James Wilson, sheriff; William Cocke, attorney for the State; Joseph Hardin, Jr., entry taker; Isaac Taylor, surveyor, Richard Woods, register, and Francis Hughes, ranger."

        > "In May, 1785, the county was reorganized under the State of Franklin, and all the officers who were reappointed were required to take a new oath of office. The magistrates who appeared and qualified were Joseph Hardin, George Doherty, Benjamin and John Gist, Newman, Asabel Rawlings, John Maughon, James Patterson, John Weir and David Craig.

        "The old county officers were removed except Daniel Kennedy, clerk and Francis Hughes, ranger. The county, as a whole, was the most loyal to the Franklin government of any of the counties composing the State, and jealously guarded against anything tending to weaken its influence or authority."

        Land Grant Records for Francis Hughes are as follows: (5)

        1. Washington Co., TN NC Grant #262 - 99 acres - Oct 24, 1782. Watauga Bk. 252
        2. Washington Co., TN NC Grant #362 - 99 acres - 24 Oct, 1782. Bk 1 p. 567 - probably same grant as #1.
        3. Greene Co., TN NC Grant #1115 - 640 acres - 12 July 1793. Bk 6 p. 463

        The third record above is known to be for land on the Mill Fork of the Big Limestone Creek, Greene Co TN.
        -------------------------------------
        1840 United States Census: , Bledsoe, Tennessee; Roll: 161; Page: 517; Image: 329; Family History Library Film: 0024542.
        Name: Margaret Hugh
        [Margaret Hughs]
        Birth Year: abt 1760
        Age: 50 to 60
        County: Bledsoe
        State: Tennessee
        Free White Persons - Males - 80 thru 89: 1 Francis age 80
        Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59: 2 Margaret Hughes and ?
        Slaves - Males - Under 10: 3
        Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 2
        Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35: 1
        Slaves - Females - Under 10: 1
        Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23: 1
        Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35: 1
        Total - All Persons (Free White, Free Colored, Slaves): 12
        Persons Employed in Agriculture: 4
        No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 2
        Total Free White Persons: 3
        Total Slaves: 9
        Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 12
        5 residences away:

        Name: Ephriam Hughs, son of John Hughes, son of Francis Hughes
        County: Bledsoe
        State: Tennessee
        Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
        Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
        Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1
        Total - All Persons (Free White, Free Colored, Slaves): 3
        Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
        No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 1
        Free White Persons - Under 20: 1
        Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
        Total Free White Persons: 3
        Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 3
        next residence:
        Hardy Lassiter
        four residences away:
        Ephriam Hughes

         

         

         

        Father: John Hughes , Sr. b: BEF 1732 in , , Pennsylvania
        Mother: Sarah [--?--]

        Marriage 1 Rebecca Allen b: ABT 1750
        Children
        Has Children Ingebo Hughes b: ABT 1770 in , , Tennessee, USA
        Has Children Hardeman Hughes b: BET 1770 AND 1780 in , , North Carolina
        Has Children John Hughes b: 1779 in , (later Dunmore County and renamed Shenandoah County), Virginia
        Has Children Hannah Retta HUGHES b: ABT 1780 in , , Tennessee, USA
        Has No Children Margaret Hughes b: BET 1780 AND 1790
        Has Children Rebecca Hughes b: ABT 1782 in , , Tennessee, USA

        Marriage 2 Elizabeth Long
        Married: 28 JUL 1802 in , Greene County, Tennessee, USA
        Note:
        http://mommy2mycutie-ivil.tripod.com/id47.html

        possibly separated in 1803, per David M. Hughes referencing Beavert notes, or divorced per record of a Francis Hughes filing for divorce from Elizabeth Hughes February 27, 1816
        Children
        Has No Children Mary Ann Hughes

        Sources:
        Title: Revolutionary War Pension Papers for Francis Hughes
        Repository:
        Media: Electronic

      • Citation:

        e-mail: suekbee@comcast.net

  2. R. Cecil Shipley Gedcom, 1999